Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA and Manila, Philippines! I wish you more Blessed New Year 2017 - to my family and friends!!! Following my tradition, I spend part of winter in Pinas to be with my beloved husband – a third of my multi-located family, the other two being in Sacramento, CA and Montclair, NJ, both in USA!

Actually, I just delayed my Pinas trip in order to witness the various activities of the Trump – Pence Oath-taking and Inauguration. Within the 1^st week of the new Administration, many things had been done in accordance with the campaign Agenda, more than the 8 years of the past Administration.  What fascinates me most is the Family Trump – their demeanor and stature. As Mike Huckabee said during the campaign, Trump impressed him by the way he has raised his children/family. The rule is: No alcoholic drinks, no drugs, no cigarettes, no tattoo, and they are truly pro-Life. Donald Jr. Has 5 kids, Eric has 2, while Ivanka has 3 – more to come. Together with their spouses, and with Melania as First Lady and her son Barron – they are just so fabulous and Beautiful! So proud of this Gorgeous First Family!!!

The New Year 2017 started with many Blessings – Our Opus Dei Recollection went smoothly (I was 1^st on Confession as again, organizing the queue and Collection; on our Tuesday Bible Study, we started with MARY – Biblical Walk with the Blessed Virgin Mother, by Edward Sri, headed now by Frank Abi-Nader, replacing Claude who had moved to Peoria, Illinois, and my Adoration Chapel commitments. Since our pastor Fr. Aldrin is on vacation in Pinas, the sub-priest on Tuesdays is another Pinoy priest, Fr. Cormac Lacre from Bohol, my kababayan. Since I helped his seaman nephew be employed in one of our vessels, we go out for brunch after the Mass, as I ask for special Blessings. And the rains had kept pouring in daily that Northern CA is no longer in drought category – GOD’s Blessings!

Sean and I spent bonding time on week-ends as he is always kept busy at work with year-end deadlines and court hearings to catch up; while Sarah continues to enjoy commenting on her victories with her Trump Circle. While our family shares so much Joy in our triumph, we are careful to limit within our circle. We also have our own Republican friends in Rob and Odette Pumares, our neighbors from Sunridge Park, just next to Anatolia.

Significant highlights for the month:

·      On our Opus Dei group (2^nd Saturday of the month), Fr. Turlock is back as he is cleared to drive again, so we got nice counsel on our Meditations while Deidre delivered humorous anecdotes on her Talk; On our Bible Study class, the familiar faces are back together with a few new ones, while some others are missing too;

·      Since I made a small donation to the Trump campaign (Sarah made her own donation too), I received a Cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again” from Pres. Trump!

·      Book read for the month: Resisting Happiness, by Mathew Kelly, distributed to parishioners, Movies watched for relaxation were: and Why Him? A comedy starring James Franco, La La Land, good movie musical, starring Ryan Gosling who won Best Actor, and Emma Stone; Meaningful get-together with friends, and trying new places to dine also comes with additional calories, needing more discipline and Resolution to control weight gains for the New Year!

·      Rose Icararangal-Davies and I are travelling together by PAL for Pinas. She is returning home, after 12 years absence. We were officemates in NAPOCOR (she is a CPA). Then, while here in America, she and my son Sean worked together in the same department at EDD. And we are neighbors here in Rancho Cordova. What a small world – Serendipity!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG